my point exactly. I don't agree that article requests on the list can be characterized as abuse. I actually think that it's rather arbitrary to do so given that, currently, there are no guidelines on http://www.auditory.org/ (or anywhere else that I'm aware of). Consequently, the way the members use the list currently dictates how the list is used. Maybe we should all discuss and agree on guidelines for all the members to follow rather than give our personal opinions?

In time, writing the authors to request PDFs might work, but it can take days. Sometimes the authors have academic webpages where you can find (and download) a
copy of their publications.

independently of how we feel about intellectual property issues, Brian's message is a useful (and constructive) reminder that this system should not be abused.

Best,

Bruno

On 06/08/2012 12:38 PM, Marcelo Caetano wrote:> Dear Brian and members of the list,> I disagree with Brian's characterization of article requests as "rather> excessive use of this list for obtaining articles". Personally, I have a> hunch that the frequent article requests might better reflect flaws in> the library system (amongs others) rather than plain laziness.> Unfortunately, I don't have data to confirm this impression (does> anyone?). However, we usually see immediate responses to article> requests made on the
list, in opposition to the alternatives Brian> points out. Ultimately, I feel that this discussion is very in line> with ongoing debates on issues about intellectual and property rights,> and I think we all could very much benefit from actively engaging in it.> Marcelo Caetano>> *De:* Brian FG Katz <brian.katz@xxxxxxxx>> *Para:* AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> *Enviadas:* Segunda-feira, 6 de Agosto de 2012 11:57> *Assunto:* [AUDITORY] exploitation of "Auditory List" as a free> "Article Request" list>> Dear list members,>> I would like to bring to people's attention the rather excessive
use> of this> list for obtaining articles. While I understand that some articles> may be> hard to find, being old, or in obscure journals, the constant flow of> requests for articles that are clearly available, albeit for a fee, is> something of an abuse of the list and also the library system.>> Student especially should profit from the systems in place at their> respective institutions, and if need be actually go to a library. Many> libraries also offer article retrieval services, which should be *fully*> exploited before make a global request to the open community.>> Students are also encouraged to contact the authors directly to obtain> difficult articles, as a means of expressing
interest, and possibly> opening> a dialog.>> Only as a last resort should the list be used as a resource for "freely"> obtaining your bibliographic references.>> Cordially,>> -Brian FG Katz> --> Brian FG Katz, Ph.D> Audio & Acoustique> LIMSI-CNRS> BP 133> F91403 Orsay> France> tel. (+33) 01 69 85 81 55> fax. (+33) 01.69.85.80.88> e-mail Brian.Katz@xxxxxxxx <mailto:Brian.Katz@xxxxxxxx>> <mailto:Brian.Katz@xxxxxxxx <mailto:Brian.Katz@xxxxxxxx>>> web_theme: http://www.limsi.fr/Scientifique/aa/thmsonesp/> web_group: http://www.limsi.fr/Scientifique/aa/>>